Hi,
I'm attempting a DIY upgrade of an existing concrete front porch. I'm planning on squaring off the old side stairs and pouring concrete front steps for bricking over. I'm going to pour footings for the stairs and will build the form to accommodate the face brick sizes and bluestone tread depths. I also want, though, to build brick walls on either side of the stairs, perpendicular to the porch, even with the porch surface. Do I need any sort of footing for the face bricks on the front face of the porch (on either side of the stairs/walls)? I'm planning on digging two to support the walls/stairs in front, but what sort of support is needed for the face bricks? I've seen the use of angle iron when using brick veneers, but will that work in this case? Can I use a crushed rock/sand base since I'll be mortaring to the porch, which is well supported?

Also, for the brick walls on either side of the stairs, do I build those first, then build the plywood form for the concrete stairs inset them? That's the only way I can understand how to have any tie-ins be suitably set into the concrete steps. But I'm worried about how sloppy my concrete work will get then. Any pointers for building such a form?

Thanks, and sorry for the long-winded first-post.

 

It would be best if you could pour the steps and the footer for underneath the porch to support the brick all in one pour, this way bonding one to the other is solved. As for using angle iron to support the brick, this is not an accepted practice, and sense you have concrete to pour anyway why not dig the footer and do it right. If you are going to have the concrete you pour covered with brick and treaded with stone, then I would not worry about being all that particular, just use common sense and take you time.